Watch out for lookalike websites when requesting free at-home COVID-19 test kits, warns the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Minnesota and North Dakota.
U.S. households can now request free at-home test kits through a Biden administration program. But when the government rolls out big initiatives, such as stimulus checks, scammers typically find ways to take advantage.
According to the BBB, scam sites may ask for payment or personal information, such as your Social Security number.
Here’s how the scam may work:
- You hear about the free COVID-19 tests and search for it online. Or you see a post or ad on social media, or receive an unsolicited email or text, urging you to request your free tests immediately by clicking on a link.
- You follow the link to a website that looks official at first glance. It may have the United States Postal Service (USPS) logo, just like the real website, and a form to request your tests. But when you start filling out the form, you notice something unusual – the fake version asks you for personal information, such as your Social Security number or Medicare ID. It may also request your credit card details, under the guise of paying for shipping. (The real page does not ask for payment or your SSN.)
Before you know it, you’ve given up your information to a scammer.
Fortunately, there are some simple ways to identify a fake website. First, look closely at the domain name. One way that fake websites trick people is by using a domain…
